Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada   

BJP for Chief Ministers' meet on Alamatti

By Our Special Correspondent

VIJAYAWADA, JULY 25. Charging the Karnataka Government with adopting an "autocratic" and "irresponsible" attitude in the release of water to Andhra Pradesh from the Alamatti reservoir, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has demanded that the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, convene an emergency meeting of Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra to resolve the river water row in the interests of farmers of the State.

"This is a first of its kind situation in the country. The Congress, which is in power in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and at the Centre, is in a piquant situation over Krishna waters. While the Prime Minister promises the all-party team that water will be released to Andhra Pradesh, the Karnataka Government refuses to do so," the senior BJP leader and former Union Minister, Bandaru Dattatreya, has said.

Instead of issuing a directive himself the Prime Minister's decision to entrust the task of convincing Karnataka to the Union Minister, Priyaranjan Das Munshi, added a political colour and complicated the issue further, Mr. Dattatreya told reporters on Sunday.

Rightful share

Launching a trenchant attack on the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, for seeking the release of water on "humanitarian grounds," he said: "When we are entitled to a rightful share of 460 tmc ft of water, where is the need for the Chief Minister to seek water on humanitarian grounds? This only reflects his political immaturity in dealing with such situations."

Moreover, the "double standards" adopted by the Chief Minister on the Krishna water issue were also too evident in that Dr. Reddy, who raised vociferous protests within and outside the Assembly against the TDP Government when a similar situation prevailed last year, was preferring to remain silent after taking over as Chief Minister.

Congress legislators, including the Krishna district Congress Committee president, Mandali Buddha Prasad, who fought for Krishna delta farmers, too, were maintaining silence on the issue. "It is now up to the farmers to pressurise the Government to release water and the BJP will educate them in this regard," Mr. Dattatreya said.

Telangana issue

Responding to queries, he reiterated his party's commitment to the Kakinada resolution on separate statehood to Telangana. "We are committed to bringing about a consensus among people of different regions before taking a final decision on the issue," he said.

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